US will welcome moves to change SL image:Thewaraperuma

The United States will welcome all efforts made by the Sri Lankan politicians to change the negative image that had been created in the minds of international community that the majority Sinhalese were harassing the minorities, U. S. Ambassador in Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison said.

UNP MP Palitha Thewaraperuma told the Daily Mirror that the US Ambassador informed him that the United States would always welcome efforts made by Sri Lankan politicians to change the negative image perceived on the Sinhalese by the international community.

Mr. Thewaraperuma said Ms. Sison commended the efforts made by him to help those who were affected by the recent clashes in Aluthgama and Beruwala.

The UNP MP had informed the US envoy that nearly 26 houses of Sinhalese had also been damaged in the clashes.

He had informed her that the government should take the blame for the clashes as it failed to take adequate steps to prevent the violence from spreading.

The MP said he told Ms. Sison that nearly 95 per cent of the Sinhalese did not welcome extremism and only a handful were engaged in extremist acts.(Yohan Perera)